Previously: Cullen Bohannon shot some of the former Union soldiers responsible for killing his wife and son. Elam got cozy with a tattooed prostitute named Eva, which didn't sit well with the white workmen in Hell on Wheels. Some of them tried to kill Elam, but Cullen rode in and save him from the noose. Reverend Cole's daughter Ruth came to town after her mother died. Cullen taught Elam how to use a gun, which he then used to kill Mr. Toole for trying to hang him. Doc Durant asked Lily to be his mistress.

Currently: Doc's train is heading west. As they chug along towards Hell on Wheels, Doc takes out some paper and a dip pen to compose a letter to his wife.

My Dearest Wife,

All is well. Heading back to Nebraska with five million dollars in my pocket. Picked up a pretty young blond lady to be my nookie on the side. On the down side, I'm making a mockery of our marriage. On the upside, at least you don't have to sleep with my fleshy, brandy-soaked self any longer.

Yours Truly...

Well, that's probably what he would have written, except in language befitting the era, but he gets no further than the salutation. He's distracted by Lily's presence. She stands at the window, looking all golden and beautiful in the sunlight, watching the scenery blur past. She sees four Cheyenne men on horseback, waiting not far from the tracks. She starts to say something to Doc, but the train suddenly lurches. The wheels screech. A glass rolls across Doc's desk. Drops of liquor spill across his interrupted missive, blurring the greeting to his wife. Symbolic! Or maybe not!

When the train comes to a stop, Doc and Lily step out to see what the holdup might be. On first viewing, I thought it was part of Doc's train that had crashed, but now I (and Doc and Lily) see that their own train had to brake in order to avoid a second, wrecked train ahead of them. Boxcars lie in splinters all over the tracks while the engine lies off to the side, still gasping out puffs of smoke. Many men are injured or dying. Lily shakes off her horror and goes to check on some of the wounded. Doc staggers around, taking in the sight of all the destruction, and hears something hissing. Steam builds up from the still-burning fire inside. What's left of the engine explodes, sending debris rocketing into the sky. Cue the opening credits.